Settlements & Verdicts

Greg Connly of DOLAN CONNLY represented a client who was a former MBTA trolley operator and a member of the affiliated Union. She alleged in her lawsuit filed in Suffolk Superior Court that the Union had not advocated for her by failing to take her case to arbitration after she was wrongfully terminated by the MBTA. The client was a native of Haiti and alleged that this failure by the Union to advocate on her behalf, was based on her race and national origin. The client had been the subject of egregious discrimination from some members of the Union.

The trial began on October 29, 2018 in Suffolk Superior Court. The jury found in favor of the client and awarded her $490,500.00 in emotional distress damages. Prejudgment interest of $179,771.19 and statutory costs were added to the verdict bringing the total amount of the judgment to $670,556.19. The Judge then allowed an additional award of attorney’s fees in the amount of $150,000.00 plus $8,733.40 in costs. The total amount of the judgment and fees owed to the client after the Superior Court trial was $829,289.59. The Union then appealed the verdict to the Massachusetts Court of Appeals. Greg Connly represented the client during the entire appeal process. On August 4, 2020, a decision came down from the Massachusetts Appeals Court. The Appeals Court upheld the Superior Court judgment. Further, the Appeals Court awarded attorney’s fees in the Appeals Court case in the amount of $27,355.00. Post-judgment interest that accrued during the appeal was also added.

On November 24, 2020, the Union paid to the client the amount of $1,006,330.03.

This case that was handled by Attorney Greg Connly of DOLAN CONNLY went from one on the verge of dismissal, to one in which there was a recovery in excess of a million dollars. No settlement offer had ever been made by the Union prior to the Superior Court trial.

Greg Connly of DOLAN CONNLY tried a case in September of 2018 in the Worcester Superior Court. The case alleged chiropractic malpractice. The plaintiff/client was an 81-year-old gentleman who had a manipulation to adjust his pelvis done by the defendant/chiropractor. The negligent performance of this manipulation resulted in the breaking of his prosthetic knee. The client reported that he heard an audible popping sound and felt immediate pain at the time of the adjustment. The prosthetic knee had to be surgically repaired fourteen days later. The chiropractor testified that he had no memory of the treatment and he testified that he did not perform the adjustment described by the client. Greg Connly and Barbara Connly of DOLAN CONNLY worked on the case for over seven years. During the trial, Greg Connly put together the facts and expert testimony supporting the client’s position into a coherent credible case for the jury.

On September 14, 2018, the Worcester Superior Court jury came back with a verdict in favor of the plaintiff/client. DOLAN CONNLY’S client was awarded $750,000.00 in past and future medical expenses and $3,000,000.00 in pain and suffering. Including interest, the total judgment was $4,426,180.35. No offer had ever been made by the defense to settle the case. The verdict was appealed by the defense attorney. The case resolved during the appeal process with the 88-year-old client receiving a significant financial settlement, above and beyond any other comparable Massachusetts settlement or verdict for such injuries. Click here to see the actual court docket.

Greg Connly of DOLAN CONNLY tried a case in the Brockton Superior Court in November of 2011. The plaintiff/client was a forty-two-year-old chef working for a third-party food service company at the defendant’s corporate cafeteria. The plaintiff sustained an electric shock when a dishwasher, provided for his use by the defendant, malfunctioned when he pressed the off button on the control panel. The machine was leaking water that came in contact with a live electrical circuit behind the control panel. Greg Connly was able to prove at trial that the defendant corporation was responsible for maintenance of the dishwasher and that it was in a hazardous and unsafe condition. It was discovered that the dishwasher had various mechanical problems after its initial installation and employees of the defendant failed to properly maintain it. The plaintiff suffered a traumatic brain injury, major depression, panic disorder, cognitive impairment and post-traumatic stress disorder. Following the electric shock, the plaintiff who had received excellent work reviews over the years, struggled at his job due to the effects of the traumatic brain injury. He never regained his previous high-level functioning in his occupation and was forced to stop working altogether.

On November 29, 2011, the Brockton Superior Court jury came back with a verdict in favor of the plaintiff/client. DOLAN CONNLY’S client was awarded $2,500,000.00 in past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost earning capacity. Including interest in the amount of $1,180,187.78, the final award was $3,680,187.78. The last offer by the defendant corporation to settle the case before trial was $50,000.00. The verdict was appealed by the defense, but the judgement was paid in full after the trial transcripts were reviewed by appellate counsel. Click here to see the actual court docket.

A client from Reading was injured when his vehicle was struck by another vehicle traveling in the wrong direction on a one-way street. Our client suffered a worsening of a pre-existing cervical disc protrusion that required surgical repair, as well as injuries to his lower back. He received an insurance claim settlement of $475,000.00. This amount represented the total motor vehicle insurance policy limit for the at-fault driver in the amount of $250,000.00, plus $225,000.00 from an umbrella insurance policy.

A client from Windham, NH sustained a dog bite in the course of his employment as an electrician. The client was working on an electrical project outside a home when he was asked by the homeowner to enter the home to look at another project. The homeowner did not restrain his Weimaraner dog while our client was in the home, despite knowing the dog was not comfortable with unfamiliar people being present in the residence. When our client was in the process of walking from one room to another, the dog unexpectedly bit him in the back of his leg. The client tried to get the dog to unlock its grip on his leg and in the process, he twisted his back. In addition to the dog bite, the client sustained significant injuries to his low back, hip and groin, including radiating pain into his legs and feet. The client underwent treatment including fusion surgery to his back and hip surgery to repair a labral tear. We represented the client in litigation filed against the homeowner. This litigation was settled during mediation for $750,000.00.

A young child from Medford sustained a dog bite to the face while he was with his father at a retail farm stand.  The dog belonged to the owners of the farm stand.  The child sustained a small laceration to his upper lip that became infected and resulted in a brief hospitalization. The claim against the insurer for the farmstand resulted in a settlement in the amount of $140,000.00 for the young child and a $10,000.00 settlement for his parents.

A teenage client from Pembroke sustained an injury to his mouth when he was struck by a BB gun projectile fired by a teenage friend.  The client sustained injuries to his lips and mouth, including the loss of his front teeth.  The client has to wear a dental flipper containing fake teeth, until he is old enough for dental implants.  We filed a claim against the homeowner’s insurer for the parents of the teenager who fired the BB gun.  The claim resulted in a settlement for the teenage client in the amount of $340,000.00.

A pregnant client from Dorchester suffered a head strike on the windshield during a two vehicle collision. Fortunately the baby was not harmed, but the client sustained a concussion and was treated for post-concussion syndrome. The claim settled prior to litigation for $60,000.00.

A young client from the South Shore suffered a cervical injury during a motor vehicle collision. She was a passenger in a vehicle that was struck by another vehicle. The claim was settled for the combined policy limits of both the at-fault driver’s insurance and the client’s parents’ underinsurance for a total of $100,000.00.

A client from Dorchester was operating a vehicle that was sideswiped by a vehicle that failed to yield. His vehicle was not heavily damaged, but he suffered an exacerbation of a longstanding lumbar spine condition. His injuries were treated with nonsurgical means. The insurance claim settled for $85,000.00.

A client from East Boston received a settlement of $80,000.00 at mediation when she sustained a wrist fracture after falling down a deteriorated stairway located between the Copley Place Mall and an MBTA station. Both Copley Place Mall and the MBTA denied ownership and maintenance of the stairway. We were able to find an old Superior Court case against the MBTA involving a fall on the same stairway at issue to prove it was owned by the MBTA. The fact that ownership had been denied further supported our claim that the stairway was not safely maintained.

A client from Assonet was operating his motorcycle with the right of way, when a driver pulled out directly in from of him from a shopping center parking lot. Our client had no choice but to force his motorcycle to the ground to avoid striking the side of the vehicle. Our client suffered injuries to his shoulder and neck. The case settled during litigation for $95,000.00.

A client from Rockland received a settlement during litigation totaling $115,000.00 when she fell down stairs at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast in New Bedford. We were able to establish that the lighting in the stairway was inadequate, that the railings were not connected and that there was no warning that the unusually shaped stairway curved sharply to the right at the bottom. The client suffered a fractured distal fibula and tibia of her left ankle requiring surgery.

A client from Marshfield was getting out of her vehicle in a parking lot when another driver struck her vehicle. Our client suffered injuries to her arm and shoulder that required surgical repair. The insurance claim settled for $100,000.00.

A client from Newton received an insurance claim settlement of $70,100.00 when she was struck by a vehicle while bicycling in Waltham. The client suffered a right ankle fracture and a shoulder contusion. The client did not require surgery and had an excellent recovery. We were able to establish that the driver of the vehicle was talking on her cell phone and distracted at the time of the collision.

A client from Athol received an insurance claim settlement of $70,000.00 when she fell down crumbling cement stairs on her way to play Bingo at a school in Fitchburg. We were able to show that the school advertised and invited the public to attend its fundraising Bingo games. The school failed to repair the stairs and knew or should have known of the hazardous condition that led to the location on the premises where Bingo was held. The plaintiff sustained a left knee medial meniscus tear requiring arthroscopic surgery to repair.

A client from Brockton suffered knee injuries while working at Logan Airport when he was struck by a truck that was backing up at low speed. Minor surgery was necessary to repair a damaged meniscus. The insurance claim settled for $115,000.00.

A minor client from Dorchester received a settlement during litigation of $20,000.00 when she sustained a 2.5 cm laceration on her knee requiring stitches. We were able to establish that the landlord hired a contractor to replace carpeting in the apartment where the minor client lived. The minor client injured her knee when it came in contact with an exposed nail that was sticking up through a metal piece of flooring left in the floor after the carpeting had been removed.

A client from South Boston suffered multiple injuries to his lower leg and head when he was struck by a motor vehicle while crossing the street. Liability was contested by the driver’s insurance company due to initial witness accounts given to the investigating police officers. The claim was settled for the driver’s available insurance policy limit of $100,000.00.

A client from Marshfield received a $19,000.00 settlement during litigation when she slipped and fell in a shallow pool at a water park on the Cape. She sustained an ankle sprain and lost time from work as a result of the fall. We were able to show that there was no evidence that the pool had been cleaned or maintained on the day of her fall. We also discovered that a young boy broke his leg in the same pool in virtually the same manner the day after our client fell.

A client from Mattapan received a settlement of $50,000.00 representing the total available insurance on a vehicle that struck him as he crossed a busy roadway. The client sustained significant injuries. We were also able to ensure that the client received the total available personal injury protection benefits in the amount of $8,000.00 for his lost wages through his wife’s vehicle insurer.

A minor disabled client from Lowell received a settlement of $47,500.00 during litigation from the City of Lowell after she sustained a broken leg while at a summer daycare program run by the City. We alleged that employees of the City incorrectly lifted her in and out of her wheelchair on the date of the incident.

A client from Quincy suffered injuries to his shoulder and ribs when he was struck by a pickup truck while walking in Freeport, Maine. Liability was contested because it was determined by the investigating police officer that our client was walking against the traffic light. He was also wearing dark clothing when the incident occurred before sunrise. The client recovered after a course of physical therapy and his insurance claim was settled for $40,000.00.

A client from Marshfield suffered an exacerbation of a known lumbar condition when the vehicle that he was operating was struck from behind at a stop light. His injuries included a disc herniation that did not require surgery. The insurance claim settled for $90,000.00.

A client from Plymouth suffered shoulder and back injuries when a vehicle turned left in front of the motorcycle he was operating. Our client was forced to lay his motorcycle down on the roadway to prevent a collision with the turning vehicle. His injuries were treated with physical therapy and pain management. Surgery was not necessary. The insurance claim settled for $85,000.00.

A client from Dorchester was injured when she went to retrieve a shopping cart near the checkout area of a supermarket and slipped on produce that had been allowed to remain on the floor in a heavily trafficked part of the store. Our client suffered injuries to her right wrist. The case settled during litigation for $75,000.00.

A client from Hanson suffered injuries to his chest and left foot when his vehicle was struck by a vehicle that crossed into his travel lane. We pursued claims against both the at-fault driver’s insurance policy and our client’s underinsured motorist insurance policy for a combined settlement of $50,000.00.

A client from Pembroke received a $40,000.00 arbitration award after being involved in a motor vehicle collision on Route 3. She suffered injuries to her right leg and back.

A client from Scituate received a settlement of $20,000.00 representing the full amount of the available insurance on a motor vehicle that struck her vehicle in an intersection in Dorchester.

An Elderly pedestrian who was struck by a motor vehicle while crossing a street on his way to church sustained injuries including a closed fracture of the tibia and fibula, clavicle fracture, fractured nasal and orbital bones and laceration injuries – $750,000.00 settlement (in addition to collecting the total motor vehicle insurance policy limit, the at-fault driver made a personal payment in order to settle the case).

Eleven year old girl suffered injuries to two fingers, including the loss of the top of one of her fingers, when it was caught under a roller in a gate which she was closing during recess at school. The company that installed the gate was bankrupt and uninsured. The school and the manufacturer of the roller on the gate contributed to settle the case with money to be paid in periodic installments during the life of the minor plaintiff – $103,000.00 settlement.

Fifty-four year old female suffered a hairline laceration and worsening of a pre-existing lumbar disc protrusion as a result of a two vehicle collision in a South Boston intersection – $120,000.00 settlement.

Thirty-seven year old male motorcyclist struck from behind by a motor vehicle suffered a fractured ankle and a fractured lumbar vertebra – $200,000.00 settlement (collected the total motor vehicle insurance policy limit on vehicle that struck motorcyclist – owned by the at-fault driver’s father – in the amount of $100,000.00, plus the $100,000.00 policy limit on the at-fault driver’s own insurance policy for his separate vehicle).

Sixty-year old female passenger in a vehicle that was struck by passing motorist suffered a worsening of a pre-existing cervical disc protrusion that required surgical repair – $100,000.00 settlement (collected the total motor vehicle insurance policy limit of at-fault motorist in the amount of $20,000.00, plus $80,000.00 in underinsured coverage from our client’s own motor vehicle insurance policy).

Driver sustained fractured hip when his vehicle spun out on a highway in inclement weather and came to rest facing the wrong direction in the breakdown lane where it was hit by a second car which also spun out on the highway – arbitration award of $214,600.00 minus 40% comparative negligence for a net award of $120,760.00.

High school age boy sustained fractured arm when pulled from the top of a set of bleachers by a fellow student – $150,000.00 settlement.

Young boy sustained bite injuries and loss of tooth when bitten in the face by a neighbor’s dog – $95,000.00 settlement.

Woman crossing a street in the rain sustained a degloving injury when her foot was run over by a front tire on a truck – $210,000.00 settlement.

Disabled gentleman sustained fractures while residing in a group home – $245,999.00 settlement.

Prisoner assaulted and battered by prison guards resulting in a fractured jaw and tooth loss – $250,000.00 jury verdict in U.S. District Court, First Circuit.

Death of a Boston firefighter in a restaurant fire as a result of restaurant owner’s failure to safely maintain the building – $800,000.00 settlement.

Mild traumatic brain injury sustained by 45 year old man in a rear end motor vehicle collision – $675,000.00 settlement.

Female resident burned in rooming house fire – $450,000.00 settlement.

Driver sustains knee injury in intersection accident – $65,000.00 settlement.

Person in custody injures hand in car accident while being transported to court – $50,000.00 arbitration award.

Carpenter injures knee after slipping on subcontractor’s hose covered in snow – $80,000.00 settlement

Eye injury linked to use of incorrectly filled prescription medication – $300,000.00 settlement.

Lumbar injuries sustained in a truck collision -$275,000.00 settlement.

Passenger sustains concussion in rear end collision – $55,000.00 settlement.

Knee injury sustained by Police Officer in fall down stairwell – $300,000.00 settlement.

Dog bite injuries and scarring to 12 year old boy – $95,000.00 settlement.

Driver injures spleen and hand in head-on collision – $100,000.00 settlement.

Lumbar spine injuries sustained in a rear end low speed motor vehicle collision – $100,000.00 settlement.

Slip and fall injury to knee on ice in a supermarket – $65,000.00 settlement.

Fall from a nursing home bed resulting in a fractured leg due to a failure to properly supervise the patient – $125,000.00 verdict in Franklin Superior Court.

Fracture resulting from leg being pinned under a wheelchair after attendant failed to secure the patient’s feet – $300,000.00 settlement.

Electrical burns and concussion from explosion of transfer switch due to improper wiring upon installation -$300,000.00 settlement.

Motorcyclist cut off by delivery truck resulting in neck and back injuries – $175,000.00 settlement.

Pedestrian struck by motor vehicle resulting in knee injuries – $115,000.00 arbitration award.

Tire breaks loose from truck and smashes through front windshield causing shoulder injury – $100,000.00 settlement.

Driver sustains patella fracture to knee after head-on collision in snowy conditions – $100,000.00 settlement.

Off-duty firefighter injured head and neck in intersection collision – $100,000.00 settlement.

Passenger aggravates pre-existing neck injury in low speed rear end collision – $97,500.00 settlement.

Pedestrian injures knee when struck by commercial vehicle’s trailer in crosswalk – $97,500.00 settlement.

Elderly driver fractures wrist in head-on car collision – $92,500.00 settlement

Driver with pre-existing neck injury aggravates condition and sustains concussion in rear end collision – $80,000.00 settlement.

Motorcyclist losses control and injures back when contractor fails to warn of missing pavement at crest of hill – $92,000.00 settlement.

Driver injures low back and neck in rear end car collision – $85,000.00 settlement.

Pedestrian injures ankle after stepping in pothole on commercial property that was concealed by leaves and debris – $85,000.00 settlement.